Data Scientist

Hillspire, LLC, is an integrated family office management company that serves the business and philanthropic activities of Eric and Wendy Schmidt and their family and supports more than 700 employees worldwide. Hillspire provides legal, finance, accounting, facilities and real estate, human resources, and information technology services to the organization.

Eric and Wendy Schmidt have created a number of philanthropic organizations and initiatives that work toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. These philanthropic organizations include:

The Schmidt Family Foundation works to restore a balanced relationship between people and planet. It has two grant-making and investment programs: The 11th Hour Project, which works to create a world with fresh air, clean water and healthy food for all people; and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, which supports scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs in developing technologies that restore ocean health.

Schmidt Ocean Institute is a virtual institute that operates the research vessel Falkor (too). The ship and its assets are available at no cost to scientists worldwide working to explore, discover and understand the ocean. Schmidt Ocean catalyzes ocean exploration and research and educates and engages the public to inform the wise stewardship of the planet.

Schmidt Sciences works to deepen human understanding of the natural world and develop solutions to global issues with science and technology. The core focus areas of the organization include: AI and advanced computing, astrophysics and space, biosciences, climate and cross-science programs.

11th Hour Racing works with the sailing community and maritime industry to advance solutions and practices that protect and restore the health of the ocean.

Agog is a groundbreaking initiative at the intersection of technology, communications and social impact. The organization helps creators and nonprofit leaders harness the power of extended reality (XR) technologies to spur positive social transformation, opening new avenues for empathy, understanding and activism. 

The Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid advances clinical care for Long Covid patients globally. The organization works to raise the level of Long Covid care and understanding around the world by connecting specialists and primary care providers to support patients and share knowledge virtually, in real time. 

Remain is a charitable organization that supports the economic, social and environmental vitality of Nantucket.

The Role

The Data Scientist will serve as the analytical anchor for projects at the intersection of AI, democracy, and social ecosystems. This role requires deep expertise in statistical methods, machine learning, and computational social science, with a focus on understanding how information flows, how civic discourse shifts, and how data science can strengthen affiliated projects.  This role will report directly to the Principal Engineer of the Technical Projects Group. Preference will be given to candidates based in New York.

You will conduct original research, support grantees and startups with technical needs, and deliver rapid analyses and visualizations to inform leadership decisions.

Key responsibilities for this role include the following:

• Track shifts in civic discourse and analyze how information flows across platforms.
• Map influence patterns, creator networks, and pivotal moments in digital conversation.
• Produce insights on information dynamics that inform strategy and priorities.

• Provide data science expertise to affiliated grantees, startups, and partners.
• Help projects design analyses, validate findings, and strengthen data pipelines.
• Collaborate with technical and non-technical teams to ensure data work aligns with practical goals.

• Deliver timely analyses and dashboards on questions from leadership.
• Build clear, compelling visualizations to make complex data legible.
• Respond quickly to emerging issues in political, civic, or platform-related contexts.

• Social Data Analysis: Experience with large-scale, messy, or fragmented datasets from APIs and platforms.
• AI/ML Expertise: Hands-on experience with NLP, network analysis, and statistical modeling.
• Exploratory Research: Ability to investigate open-ended questions and turn findings into actionable insights.
• Civic & Political Data Fluency: Understanding of how civic and political datasets are structured and used.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work across disciplines with engineers, policy experts, and external partners.
• Communication: Strong ability to distill technical work into insights that inform leadership decisions.

• PhD (or ABD/near completion) in Data Science, Statistics, AI/ML, Computational Social Science, Physics, or related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze large-scale social media and civic data.
• Prior experience in political analytics, civic research, or social ecosystem analysis.
• Strong programming skills (Python, R, SQL; ML/NLP frameworks).
• Commitment to applying data science for democratic resilience and social good.
• Active use of AI tools in day-to-day workflow, with openness to adopting and experimenting with new technologies.

This is an exempt position.

Hillspire, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background are welcomed, valued, and supported.

We believe that diversity brings about greater results on all levels and we aim to use our resources to generate greater impact through our work. Candidates who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.